Fairphone 5 review – Sustainable smartphone with 8 years updates and 5 years warranty

With a display-to-surface ratio of 83%, the Fairphone 5 may not exude a super-modern impression, but it boasts a clean and attractively finished design. The matte aluminum frame is resistant to fingerprints, and the smartphone comes in matte black, sky blue, and transparent options. The transparent variant was used for our test device.

The Fairphone 5 has shed some weight, and its clipped-on back adds a touch of nostalgia. The back is secured by 18 small plastic teeth that require effort to release and care to relock. Underneath the cover lies the replaceable battery, easily accessible after removal. Only then can you reach the nano-SIM and microSD slots, both equipped with an eject mechanism.

When it comes to material selection, the Fairphone 5 places a strong emphasis on recycled materials. Notably, 94% of the aluminum, 82% of the magnesium, 77% of the indium, and 69% of the plastic in the Fairphone 5 are derived from recycled sources. Tin, copper, nickel, and rare earths are also sourced from recycled materials in comparatively high proportions. The origin of raw materials is another critical factor. The Fairphone 5 employs fairly mined raw materials (gold: 100%, cobalt: 100%, silver: 100%, lithium: 99%, tungsten: 99%) from non-crisis regions. Suppliers must adhere to standards for safe and humane working conditions (SA8000 and ISO45001), and the smartphone’s manufacturing process utilizes 100% renewable energy.

For users interested in further disassembly, the process is straightforward with Phillips screws that require no glue. The twelve silver-colored screws grant access to the USB port, speakers, camera, and card slots. The eight black screws secure the front, requiring loosening for tasks like changing the display or front camera. This design allows many users to perform common repairs themselves, promoting repairability. It’s worth noting that the smartphone is not waterproof. Nonetheless, it is protected against the ingress of damaging amounts of dust and water jets from any angle in accordance with IP55.